Monte Cristo Mine - Yavapai County
Where: Located just outside Wickenburg along Constellation Road. Private Property.
Travel Conditions: The Monte Cristo Mine can be reached along Constellation Road which is a well traveled dirt road. Summer months can be very hot.
Operation Dates: Started in the early 1920's
Description: The mine was first discovered by a couple of Mexican prospectors, just befor the turn of the century, who worked it for a couple of years before being run off by some claim jumpers saying that "furriners" were not allowed to own or work mining claims. But the Mexicans did such a good job of hiding the entrance that the claim jumpers had nothing to show for their their misdeeds.
The person who eventualy ended up owning the mine, Ezra Thayer of Phoenix, was quoted as saying he considered his money safer in the ground than in a bank. He spent a good deal of money blocking off the ore desposits instead of mining them.
He finally sold the mine in 1926. It has been worked off and on since then and there is believed to still be good deposits of gold and silver bearing ore still down there. (www.4wheelingarizona.com)
The New Monte Cristo mine was located in Constellation, Yavapai County, Arizona about 11 miles northeast of the town of Wickenburg. Chauncey C. Julian bought the New Monte Cristo claim from Ezra W. Thayer late in 1926. Julian, a famous speculator in other people's money, had left California where he sold stock in fraudulent oil leases owned by his Julian Petroleum during the boom years there. In 1926, Julian founded Leadfield, Nevada and offered free, luxury train rides from Los Angeles to Leadfield to interested Angelinos, most of whom returned home with less money than they had when they started. When the Leadfield pickings dried up, Julian offered the public his New Monte Cristo mine. The New Monte Cristo medals were probably souvenirs to be given to those who parted with the most money on their way back to L.A. and points east. The town of Wickenburg, near the mine, was a popular dude ranch location. Julian's later history is unknown, but he may have killed himself in China, where he fled to elude his creditors. The other partners in Julian Petroleum (known as Julian Pete, makers of Hercules Gasoline which sold for two bits a gallon and was said to "kick like a mule'') were all convicted in federal court of mail fraud. (www.stacks.com)
P.O. established at Constellation April 29, 1901 and discontinued on January 31, 1939. (Ghost Towns of Arizona By James E. Sherman, Barbara H. Sherman)
Monte Cristo Mining and Milling Co. Arizona
Address: Wickenburg, Az
Officers: Ezra W. Thayer, president and chief owner, Phoenix, Az., A. G. Pickett, sec.
Inc. Nov. 23, 1903. Cap. $2,000,000; $1 par.
Property: Monte Cristo silver mine, adjoining the Arizona Copper Belt mine near Constellation in Black Rock district, Yavapai County. The mine shows very remarkable high grade native silver ore which in the bottom of the mine is changing to copper ore.
Development: by 1,100feet shaft with over 6,000 feet of workings.
Mine reported sold in 1920 go S. H. Worthington and Grover Hubbel, Wickenburg. The new owners installed a 10 foot K. & K. flotation plant making a 95% recovery.
(The Mines Handbook – Succeeding the Copper Handbook by Walter Harvey Weed, Copyright 1922)
What you will see today: The headframe and winch house are still present. There is another large building with a tin roof on poles. It is open from the sides. There are other scattered wood buildings that have fallen over and collapsed. The mine is located off the well traveled Constellation dirt road.
Comments: Other mines operated in the area were the Black Rock, Oro Grande, and Gold Bar
Minerals Mined: Primary - Silver, Secondary - Copper and Gold
Acknowledgement: (www.4wheelingarizona.com), (www.stacks.com), (Ghost Towns of Arizona By James E. Sherman, Barbara H. Sherman), (The Mines Handbook – Succeeding the Copper Handbook by Walter Harvey Weed, Copyright 1922)